If you stand next to one of the sides of Seville's Cathedral, just at the main entrance of its courtyard (Patio de los Naranjos), you' ll have in front of you what was the main gate to the great mosque (11th c.). This door (Puerta del Perdón) is the only part left standing, apart from the ablution yard itself and the alminar (the famous Giralda). The Cathedral is the largest Gothic temple and World Heritage.
Av. de la Constitución, s/n, 41004 Sevilla.
(+34) 902 099 692 / www.catedralsevilla.es
Every month except July and August: Monday: 11:00h - 15:30h / Tuesday to Saturday: 11:00h - 17:00h / Sunday: 14:30h - 18:00h.
July and August (except 17 and 25 July): Monday: 10:30h - 16:00h / Tuesday to Saturday: 11:00h - 18:00h / Sunday: 14:00h - 19:00h.
Closed: 1, 6 January and 25 December. / 5 January, 24 and 31 December, reduced time: 11:00h - 13:00h.
Adults: € 10. / Children (under 14 years): € 5 / Seniors (over 65 years): € 5 / Free entrance: Monday, 16:30h - 18:00h. / Audioguide: € 4.
The ticket includes also the Giralda tower.
The east and north galleries and the cistern, a large tank for storing water, have been preserved. The arches help you to imagine the prayer room. The presence of orange trees in the Andalusi mosques started in Cordoba, 'imported' from Syria.
That is what Puerta del Perdón means, the only one that remains of the Almohad mosque. The door retains the original coating of carved bronze sheet. The large knockers are copies of the original Almohad, kept in the Cathedral museum.
The tomb of Christopher Columbus is in the Cathedral of Seville since 1899. For many years the Dominican Republic said that the explorer of America was buried in its soil. Finally, in 2006, a DNA test ended the dispute in favor of Seville.
The first great mosque of Isbiliya was an Ummayad Mosque of ibn Adabbas. It was where today is the Salvador Church (500 meters from the Almohad mosque and current Cathedral). The alminar and the ablutions courtyard are still preserved.
